gamy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgā-mē 

variants or gamey

gamier; gamiest

1

: brave, plucky

—used especially of animals

2

a

: having the flavor of game

especially : having the flavor of game near tainting

b

: smelly

3

a

: sordid, scandalous

gave us all the gamy details

b

: corrupt, disreputable

a gamy character

c

: sexually suggestive : racy

gamy witticisms

gamily

ˈgā-mə-lē 

adverb

gaminess

ˈgā-mē-nəs 

noun

-gamy

2 of 2

noun combining form

1

: marriage

exogamy

2

: union for propagation or reproduction

allogamy

3

: possession of (such) reproductive organs or (such) a mode of fertilization

cleistogamy

Synonyms

Adjective

• bawdy
• blue
• lewd
• off
• off-color
• off-colored
• racy
• ribald
• risqué
• salty
• spicy
• suggestive

Examples of gamy in a Sentence

Adjective

a singles bar where the conversations and come-on lines tend to be gamy

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After the long journey for this patient to receive a proper diagnosis, clinicians in Florida should keep brucellosis in mind—and residents should think twice about any gamey gifts. —Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025

The texture of the raw lamb, minced to a smeary fineness, is lightened with bulgur, and its mildly gamy flavor is warmed and sharpened with nutmeg and salt. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024

These are video games in the gamiest sense—violent, repetitive, grandiose, silly. —Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

Lamb Chops With Minty Pea Puree and Pomegranate Minty peas and sweet-tart pomegranate are a great complement for gamy lamb chops. —Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

in sense 1 from game entry 2 + -y entry 1; in other senses from game entry 1 + -y entry 1

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -gamia, from the base of gameîn "to marry" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at -gamous

First Known Use

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for gamy

• chummy
• crummy
• dummy
• gummy
• mummy
• ramie
• rummy
• tummy
• yummy

Kids Definition

gamy

adjective

variants or gamey

ˈgā-mē 

gamier; gamiest

1

: brave, plucky

2

: having the flavor of wild game especially when slightly spoiled

gamy meat

gamily

ˈgā-mə-lē 

adverb

gaminess

ˈgā-mē-nəs 

noun